Coming home to Kolkata

The city warmly welcomes Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan

Earlier this week, when Abhishek Bachchan landed in Kolkata for the shooting of Mani Ratnam's film (tentatively titled Raavan), he got the welcome of a prodigal son. Abhishek's father is regarded as Bengal's Jamai Babu, as Jaya Bachchan happens to be Bengali.

The baton passes on

A few years ago, when father and son Bachchan were shooting simultaneously in Kolkata the senior AB had said, "Earlier they cheered for me. Now they cheer for my son."

Ash accepted

Says Abhishek. "I got a super-enthusiastic welcome because this was my first visit to Kolkata with Aishwarya." We argue that Aishwarya isn'e even remotely Bengali! Explains Abhishek, "I think it has more to do with the very powerful work she has done with Rituparno Ghosh in Chokher Bali and Raincoat.

Bengal has adopted her as a daughter-in-law. I too have done some very important films in Kolkata Ritu's Aantar Mahal and Mani Ratnam's Yuva. And I must say I get a rousing welcome in Kolkata every time. But nothing compares to the way I was received this time."

Morale booster

Abhishek describes Kolkata as a big morale booster. "Every time I feel demoralised, I make a trip to Kolkata. They just smother youwith love."

Proud half-Bengali!

Abhishek, who has done two Bengali films and a cameo as his mother's son in Raja Sen's Desh, is open to another Bengali film. "Why not? I'm half-Bengali and am very proud of it."